The Nissan Terrano II, known in Japan as the Nissan Mistral, was a compact SUV built from 1993 to 2005. Nissan’s Spanish subsidiary Nissan Motor Ibérica made it for Europe as the Terrano II and also supplied it to Ford Europe, which sold it as the Ford Maverick. The name Mistral comes from the wind that blows in south-eastern France.
Nissan Terrano II at a glance
| Production | February 1993 – May 2005 |
|---|---|
| Sales ended | 2006 |
| Built in | Spain, by Nissan Motor Ibérica |
| Internal code | R20 |
| Bodies | three-door short and five-door long wheelbase; three-door panel van |
| Base | WD21 Terrano platform |
| Design | I.DE.A Institute, Italy |
| Japanese name | Nissan Mistral, from June 1994 |
| Ford version | Ford Maverick in Europe and Britain |
| Renamed | Nissan Terrano in Europe from 2002 |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Nissan Terrano II.
History of the Nissan Terrano II
Launch
First launched in 1993, the Terrano II stayed in production until May 2005 with sales ending in 2006, a long life in a single generation. The basic form never changed, though it was significantly updated through its life. The body was designed by the Italian I.DE.A Institute and was tall and slim next to most rivals, with generous ground clearance. It used the WD21 series Terrano platform and came in a short three-door and a long five-door body, with a panel van version of the three-door made chiefly for Britain.
Mistral and Maverick
Production started in Spain in February 1993 and European sales in May that year. The Mistral went on sale in Japan in June 1994, five-door only at first, with a three-door added in 1995; it was sold only through Nissan Satio Store. In Australia the Terrano II arrived late, in April 1997, and with a manual gearbox only, which limited its appeal there. Ford Europe sold the same car as the Ford Maverick on the continent and in Britain.
Facelifts
In 1996 the car was facelifted with round headlights. At the start of 1999 the Japanese Mistral and the Ford Maverick were phased out, while the Terrano II gained a new front in line with contemporary Nissans and an updated interior. A further facelift came in 2002 with the steering wheel from the P12 Primera; from the Geneva show of March that year it was marketed simply as the Nissan Terrano in Europe, the previous Terrano having become the Pathfinder. The car was replaced indirectly by the X-Trail, the Pathfinder and the British-built Qashqai.
Design and features
- One generation, twelve years: built from 1993 to 2005 without a full redesign.
- Spanish production: made by Nissan Motor Ibérica.
- Ford Maverick: the same car sold by Ford in Europe.
- Mistral: the Japanese name from 1994.
Nissan Terrano II versions
- Terrano II three-door (1993–2005): the short-wheelbase car.
- Terrano II five-door (1993–2005): the long-wheelbase car.
- Terrano II panel van: the commercial three-door for Britain.
- Nissan Mistral (1994–1999): the Japanese version.
- Ford Maverick: the Ford-badged version.
The Terrano II replaced the earlier Terrano and Pathfinder line, and its role was later divided between the X-Trail and Qashqai. More cars are in the Nissan collection.
Video: NISSAN TERRANO SAS OFF-ROAD
Video by YouTube on YouTube.
Sources
- Nissan Terrano II, English Wikipedia: production, bodies, Mistral, Maverick, facelifts, replacement
